Slidable mounting plate

ABSTRACT

A mounting plate ( 1 ) having one or more parts for indirectly or directly attaching a tester ( 2 ) for electronic components on the one side and a handler ( 3 ) for electronic components on the other side, comprising at least a single plate ( 4 ) on the side of the tester’ and a single plate ( 5 ) on the side of the handler or three or more single plates which are slidable in opposite directions in the x and/or y and/or z direction and lockable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a mounting plate having two or moreparts for non-positively and/or positively connecting a tester forelectronic components on the one side to a handler for electroniccomponents on the other side with the features stated in the preamble ofclaim 1.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In particular, the electronic components used according to the inventionmay be integrated circuits (IC's) or wafers which, for example, areproduced on a silicon basis.

From the prior art it is known to directly attach a tester forelectronic components to a handler for electronic components by means ofa docking unit with centering pins.

Here, it is particularly disadvantageous that several different andexpensive docking units must be purchased, maintained and stored ifdifferent handlers for different electronic components each havingdifferent dimensions and locking concepts, are to be connected to thesame tester or if a handler is to be connected to several testers whichare unalike.

As a rule, handlers for electronic components further comprise aplurality of adjacently disposed and forward and backward movableplungers by means of which the electronic components to be tested cantravel in the direction of the centered contact base of an oppositetester for electronic components.

Mostly, merely a single plunger among this plurality of plungers presenton the side of the handler is active in the form of a so-called “activecontact sited”.

During the test process the contact base on the side of the testerlocated in the center of the tester must be aligned centrally to thecorresponding active plunger of the handler.

In order to make the mostly single centered contact base of the testerengage with the corresponding active, mostly eccentric plunger of thehandler it is necessary in the devices of the prior art to dismount thetester completely and in a laborious and time-consuming manner from thehandler, to replace the original docking unit by a docking unit adjustedto the new position, to carry out a time-consuming adjustment and toperform a final locking.

The time needed for such refit and thus the down-time of the overalltest device for doing so is about 10 hours.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a devicefor connecting a tester for electronic components on the one hand to ahandler for electronic components on the other hand, which does notrequire purchasing, maintaining and stocking several different dockingunits even if various handlers or testers are used, and which allows fora particularly fast, simple, exact and low-cost adjustment of theposition of the contact base(s) of a tester (test head) to the positionof the corresponding active plunger (contact site) of an oppositehandler, thus reducing down-time during change-over from one activeplunger to another active plunger.

According to the invention this object is achieved in a generic deviceby the features stated in the characterizing part of claim 1.Particularly preferred embodiments are the subject-matter of thesubclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail byreferring to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an overall device for testingelectronic components which on the one side of a central inventivemounting plate includes a handler for electronic components and a testerfor testing electronic components on the other side of the centralinventive mounting plate;

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional side view along line A-A in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a mounting plate according tothe invention, seen from the side of a tester;

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of a mounting plate according to theinvention, seen from the side of a tester.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As can already be taken from FIG. 2, as a rule a tester (2; test head)for electronic components on the one side and a handler (3) forelectronic components on the other side can be reversibly attachedindirectly—such as via docking means (9) having two or more parts—ordirectly to the inventive mounting plate (1) having two or more parts.

Preferably, the mounting plate (1) according to the invention comprisesat least a single plate (4) on the side of the tester and a single plate(5) on the side of the handler or three or more single plates which areslidable in opposite directions in the x and/or y and/or z direction andlockable.

The adjustability of the two or more single plates (4, 5) in the zdirection can be performed optionally to have the surface on the side ofthe handler of the contact base (15) of the tester (2) lie against theback panel of the handler (3).

The slidability of the single plates (4, 5) of the mounting plate (1) inopposite directions can be effected, for example, by one or more rolleror sliding bearings, ball bearing bushes, sliding guides, guide rollers,linear bearings, linear guides, radial bearings, air bearings orhydraulic bearings.

FIGS. 3 and 4 in particular show that the inventive mounting plate (1)for oppositely positioning the single plates (4, 5) may comprise two ormore apertured plates (6) which are fixedly or slidably and lockablyattached to one of the single plates (4 or 5).

It is obvious that in an alternative case the apertured plate (6) cane.g. be attached directly or indirectly to the handler (3) or the tester(2) itself.

The apertured plate (6) can be built as e.g. a plate with bores, a grid,a net or a frame with segments.

Preferably, two or more locking devices (7) attached to the other singleplate (4), optionally on the side of the tester, reversibly mesh withthe apertured plate (6) attached, for example, to the single plate (5)on the side of the handler or to the handler (3) or the tester (2).

The at least one locking device (7) may be developed e.g. in the form ofa spring-loaded or not spring-loaded positioning pin, a snap mechanism,a clip-on mechanism or a press-on piece.

As a rule, the at least one apertured plate (6) is mounted exchangeablyand is preferably supported adjustably in the x and/or y and/or zdirection and lockable.

Preferably, the distances and locations of the bores of this aperturedplate (6) correspond to the distances and locations of the plungers orcontact sites of the handler (3).

Based on this correspondence of the positions of the recesses of theapertured plate (6) and the positions of the plungers on the side of thehandler the centered contact base(s) (15) of a one-sided tester (2) canbe centered above the active, mostly eccentric plunger(s) of a handler(3) on the other side, optionally by simply and quickly changing a holewithin the same apertured plate (6).

If the handler (3) is changed, the original apertured plate (6) can alsobe exchanged quickly and simply for an apertured plate (6) adjusted tothe plunger distances and plunger locations of the new handler (3).

In both above-stated cases the down-time and change-over time,respectively, of the whole tester, known and dreaded from the prior art,is reduced from about 10 hours to about 10 minutes, resulting in adramatic improvement of the throughput and thus the economy of a testerequipped with the mounting plate (1) according to the invention.

As can be taken from FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, in a preferred embodiment theinventive mounting plate (1) may comprise, for example, a self-lockingheight adjustment (8) acting at least in the y direction for the slidingsingle plate (4) carrying a tester (2) on the side of the tester.

In case the locking device (7) is unlocked, an unintended sinking of thesliding single plate (4) on the side of the tester with the tester (2)attached thereto can be safely avoided owing to such self-locking heightadjustment.

The self-locking height adjustment (8) acting at least in the ydirection may be developed e.g. in the form of an electric, hydraulic,pneumatic or mechanic adjustment device or a spindle mechanism, rackmechanism, a belt, a chain or in the form of straps, ropes or Bowdencables.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the mounting plate according tothe invention further comprises safety means which permit the singleplates (4, 5) to slide in opposite directions only after they have beendeactivated.

On principle, the slidability of the single plates (4, 5) in oppositedirections may be performed manually and/or hydraulically and/orpneumatically and/or electrically and/or mechanically.

Optionally, on the single plate (4) on the side of the tester two ormore docking means (9) for indirectly attaching and positioning thetester (2; test head) to the single plate (4) on the side of the testermay be mounted reversibly or irreversibly.

Thus, the single plate (4) on the side of the tester may include two ormore recesses (10), bores with or without threads, structures, adapters,hooks or connecting links for reversibly attaching docking means (9)having two or more parts or for directly attaching a tester (2).

As can be taken from FIGS. 3 and 4 in particular, in preferredembodiments the inventive mounting plate (1) may include a central,round or polygonal recess (11) in its single plate (3) on the side ofthe tester for reversibly, directly or indirectly receiving a deviceunder test board (12) acting between the tester (2) and the handler (3).

Optionally, a device under test board support (13) adapted on theoutside to the shape of the recess (11) and on the inside to the shapeof the device under test board (12) can be inserted reversibly as wellas loosely fitting or substantially gastight into the recess (11) of thesingle plate (4) on the side of the tester. As a rule, the device undertest board support (13) is developed to be annular, strut-shaped,grid-shaped, square, rectangular or polygonal as well as electricallyinsulating.

The advantage of an electrically insulating development of the deviceunder test board support (13) lies in safely avoiding the danger of adestructive short-circuit.

Corresponding to the central recess (11) of the single plate (4) on theside of the tester the single plate (5) on the side of the handler mayalso include a recess (14) located in the center for receiving and/orguiding the contact base(s) (15) of a handler (3).

In summary it can be stated that within the frame of the presentinvention a device is provided in the shape of a mounting plate forconnecting a tester for electronic components on the one side to ahandler for electronic components on the other side.

For the first time, by using the inventive mounting plate (1), which isslidable with regard to its single plates (4, 5), the purchase,maintenance and stocking of several different expensive docking units isno longer necessary even if different handlers or testers are used.

Moreover, the mounting plate (1) according to the invention allows for aparticularly fast, simple, exact and low-cost adjustment of the positionof the contact base(s) (15) of a tester (2; test head) to the potion ofthe corresponding active plunger (contact site) of an opposite handler(3).

Consequently, the down-time of the handler (3) during change-over fromone active plunger to another active plunger will be drastically reduceddue to the inventive mounting plate (1) and thus the throughput and theeconomy, respectively, of the overall tester will be considerablyenhanced.

1-17. (canceled)
 18. A mounting plate having one or more parts forindirectly or directly attaching a tester for electronic components onthe one side and a handler for electronic components on the other side,characterized in that it comprises at least a single plate on the sideof the tester and a single plate on the side of the handler or three ormore single plates which are slidable against each other in the x and/ory and/or z direction and are lockable.
 19. The mounting plate accordingto claim 18, characterized in that the slidability of the single platesof the mounting plate against each other is effected by one or moreroller or sliding bearings, ball bearing bushes, sliding guides, guiderollers, linear bearings, linear guides, radial bearings, air bearingsor hydraulic bearings.
 20. The mounting plate according to claim 18,characterized in that for oppositely positioning the single plates itcomprises one or more apertured plates fixedly or slidably and lockablyattached to one of the single plates with which one or more lockingmeans mounted on the other single plate engage reversibly.
 21. Themounting plate according to claim 20, characterized in that theapertured plate can be exchanged, with the distances and locations ofthe bores of this apertured plate corresponding to the distances andlocations of the plungers or contact sites of the handler such that bysimply changing a hole within the same apertured plate the centralcontact base(s) of the tester can be centered above the activeplunger(s) of the handler, and, if the handler is changed, with theoriginal apertured plate being exchangeable for an apertured plateadjusted to the plunger distances and plunger locations of the newhandler.
 22. The mounting plate according to claim 20, characterized inthat the at least one apertured plate is supported adjustably in the xand/or y and/or z direction and can be locked.
 23. The mounting plateaccording to claim 20, characterized in that the at least one lockingdevice is built as a spring-loaded or not spring-loaded positioning pin,a snap mechanism, a clip-on mechanism or a press-on piece.
 24. Themounting plate according to claim 23, characterized in that it comprisesa self-locking height adjustment acting at least in the y direction forthe sliding single plate carrying a tester such that in case the lockingdevice is unlocked, an unintended sinking of the sliding single plate onthe side of the tester with the tester attached thereto can be avoided.25. The mounting plate according to claim 24, characterized in that theself-locking height adjustment acting in the y direction can be built asan electric, hydraulic, pneumatic or mechanic adjustment device or aspindle mechanism, rack mechanism, a belt, a chain or in the form ofstraps, ropes or Bowden cables.
 26. The mounting plate according toclaim 18, characterized in that it comprises a safety means which allowsthe single plates to slide in opposite directions only after it has beendeactivated.
 27. The mounting plate according to claim 18, characterizedin that the slidability of the single plates against each other isperformed manually and/or hydraulically and/or pneumatically and/orelectrically and/or mechanically.
 28. The mounting plate according toclaim 18, characterized in that on the single plate on the side of thetester one or more docking devices can be reversibly or irreversiblymounted for attaching and positioning the tester to the single plate onthe side of the tester.
 29. The mounting plate according to claim 18,characterized in that the single plate on the side of the testerincludes two or more recesses, bores with or without threads,structures, adapters, hooks or connecting links for reversibly attachingdocking means having two or more parts or for directly attaching atester.
 30. The mounting plate according to claim 18, characterized inthat the single plate on the side of the tester includes a central,round or polygonal recess for reversibly, indirectly or directlyreceiving a device under test board acting between the tester and thehandler.
 31. The mounting plate according to claim 30, characterized inthat a device under test board support adapted on the outside to theshape of the recess and on the inside to the shape of the device undertest board can be inserted in a reversible as well as loosely fitting orsubstantially gastight manner into the recess of the single plate on theside of the tester.
 32. The mounting plate according to claim 31,characterized in that the device under test board support is developedto be annular, strut-shaped, grid-shaped, square, rectangular orpolygonal as well as electrically insulating.
 33. The mounting plateaccording to claim 21, characterized in that the single plate on theside of the handler side includes a recess centered in the middle forreceiving and/or guiding the plunger(s) of the handler.
 34. The mountingplate according to claim 21, characterized in that the adjustability ofthe one or more single plates can be performed in the z direction tomake the area on the side of the handler of the contact base of thetester lie against the back panel of the handler.